High School Volleyball Finds a New Spotlight Under the Stars
Anwar Stetson
The New Friday Night Lights
During the fall, Friday nights are typically dominated by high school football. But now, the turf has become the center stage for an under-the-radar yet up-and-coming sport: high school volleyball.
Across the country, a growing number of schools are trading indoor gyms for open-air venues, bringing volleyball “under the stars.” According to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), the idea gained momentum after Nebraska Women’s Volleyball’s record-breaking 2023 match that drew more than 92,000 fans to Memorial Stadium. The match reportedly had the largest crowd ever for a women’s sporting event.
This fall, schools from around the country are now trying their hand at outdoor volleyball.
Spikes from Sea to Shining Sea
New Mexico had its first ever outdoor match in September, as Albuquerque Academy hosted La Cueva under the stars with a temporary court hauled in from Colorado. The Albuquerque Journal called the event a “resounding success.”
In upstate New York, Frontier (NY) hosted Hamburg (NY) for the for both men’s and women’s outdoor matches last month. The event drew 2,000 fans and over 100,000 views on social media. The change of scenery adds an element of surprise (weather), and turns volleyball into a Friday Night Lights event typically reserved for football.
For players, the move adds both excitement and challenge. Competing in a football stadium introduces elements like wind and temperature swings, but it also offers an unforgettable atmosphere.
“It was insane,” said Frontier senior Quinn Brodie. “It was definitely a feeling of being in a big college event or even professional.”
The timing could not be better. Volleyball is a top-three most popular sport for girls, and the fastest growing sport for boys, according to the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations).
Outdoor matches are amplifying that growth, giving the sport new visibility and a stronger connection to local communities.
